Modell’s

Avoid this store at all cost!!! Horrible customer service went in to buy my son a tee shirt and hat for the mets championship. Four people behind the counter couldn’t figure out how to call another store to see if it was in stock. The number on the wall was wrong they started looking for a print out of all the stores my sales associate Meisha laughed and fooled around with the other associates while I waited for her to take her time and figure out the number to the store on 59 and Lexington. Marly who tried to move the process along was ignored on all fronts. There was another customer who needed to have his purchase rung up and one of the associates was using the register. When Marly asked him to get off so another associate could ring up the customer he waved her off and continued to do what ever he was doing while the customer waited. In total I waited 20 min for something I could’ve done on my phone. So annoyed won’t be returning to any Modells anytime soon.

Mediocre location, organization, and checkout service, but I still got what I needed. People are friendly enough, as with the location near Astor Place.

Don’t ever try to return anything you buy here. They take no responsibility for anything.

I came in looking for either a Chris Johnson, Vick, or even Geno Smith t-​shirt. They had none of them. All they had was 4 Eric Decker tees. Then I looked for Yankee shirts. All they had were Jeter, McCann, and Soriano, who’s not even on the team.

A Modell’s in FiDi?
And they actually have more than decent stock of all sports related fare. Staff is young, friendly, patient.
They recently had new Brooklyn Nets attire! Exciting!
On my last trip here, I picked up a Wilson tennis racket, a new water bottle and a bag of tennis balls for $ 50. Decent.
2 levels of sports shopping, registers up and downstairs… This is as good as any other Modell’s in Manhattan.

Just terrible. Rude, distracted and unhelpful staff. Dingy, depressing, poorly organized space. Lots of floor area, but badly stocked.
Last visit: I walked in to try and buy a Knicks cap (during the middle of their playoff series with the Heat). They don’t have any. Not one, in the whole freaking store. Way to go from the «local» chain.
I still shop here occasionally just because there aren’t really any other options in FiDi. But how the hell does this joint survive in a competitive marketplace? Bizarre.

Shoe selection is poor, staff is miserable strolling around the store like text messaging zombies. Couldn’t get anyone to help me, then I waited on line for ten minutes and I was second. A manager stood next to the canker uselessly watching her struggle with the computer. It couldn’t have been more obvious I was waiting, I was staining four feet behind the person who was trying to pay. Then some rude customer walked up and the manager told them they could help the at the next register! Wtf! I dropped my stuff and walked out, I will never go back! Maybe for their inevitable 75% off going out of business sale.

On the phone with them before coming in…
«Do you guys have ping-​pong balls?»
«Yes we do.»
«Do you carry 3-​star ping-​pong balls?»
«Is that the name of the brand?!»
«No, it’s the grade. Ping-​pong balls are graded by weight, which gives it a more authentic bounce.»
«Let me check,» thinking I’m crazy… «Yes we do.»
They put up with crazies like me (and you).

Rude and useless staff and a reaffirmation of why one should always shop at Paragon. I asked an employee for a specific item and received a mumbled, under-​her-​breath answer which she uttered while looking in the other direction. When I asked her to repeat her answer, she shouted it so loudly everyone in the store turned to look at her. Nice.

Don’t let the appearance from the outside fool you. As many Unilocalers have already explained, the main portion of the store is in it’s basement. Pricing could be better, but then again it’s a chain so I guess they don’t really get to name their own pricing. Glad it’s down here in case i need another brace for the old bones and joints in this bod.

Well, spring is here again, and I need to be more mindful about being outside and being active. With gorgeous days and an amazing park and esplanade that runs by my apartment building, I have little reason not to take long walks, long runs, and, well, short bike rides. To get properly equipped for the amazing weather that is before us, I descended upon Modell’s with unabated enthusiasm. However, enthusiasm is not always the best substitute for knowledge, so I was very fortunate to have one of the staff help me with my purchases. I wound up with great running shoes, athletic socks, a nifty pedometer, and so forth. I was impressed by the attention and quality of help I received. I will be making this location of Modell’s a regular stop until our next dreaded winter is upon us. Recommend.

This location is horrible. It seldom has ANY tennis overgrips for sale and has limited inventory for many sports. It does have tennis balls though. A last resort for those who left their gym clothes at home or desperately need something on the fly. You will be hard pressed to even find a cashier working downstairs most of the time. I’d rather hit the one off Chambers. I bid you adieu as it is once again time to play with my balls. Not those, you gutterhead.

This location of Modell’s is conveniently tucked around the financial district downtown. While it doesn’t seem to have a very large storefront it actually has multi levels with a large cellar.
I was hunting for a Yoga/​Exercise mat and while the selection wasn’t very grand as most of them were geared towards women, I found one that was acceptable. Not as pricey as I thought from researching different mats online. $ 20 for a generic blue plastic version. I also had an impulse buy and purchased a pair of Nike weightlifting gloves for $ 20. They range from $ 10-​$ 25 and while I was interested in the higher quality version, they didn’t have my size in stock.
You get the feel that you’re in some 99 cent discount store while shopping at Modell’s. Sometimes that’s a good thing — to see generic brands next to major ones. Gotta save moola these days.

good one Liisa, but Modell’s isn’t the poor man’s Paragon, its more like the drunk, homeless, trying to get off crack, but can’t quite muster the strength to keep up with rehab version of Paragon. But i will say this, the 150 Broadway store might not have a lot of stuff, but there workers (Jennifer) was very helpful over the phone as I was looking for boxing wraps. She even told me what they had, the sizes they had left, and the price. You gotta like that. I looked around for a few minutes before buying my wraps, but there really is nothing there. No comparison to Paragon, although i’m not sure Paragon would even have boxing equipment! Gotta go to Mo’s! Got-​ta go to MO-dell’s, Gotta go to Mo’s…MODELL’S!

«Gotta go to Mo’s
Gotta go to Mo’s
Modell’s!»
This jingle seemed inescapable when I was growing up in NY. Modell’s marketing campaign gets four stars from me because it seems to have subliminally convinced me that Modell’s is the official sporting goods store of New Yorkers — I am being a traitor to my city if I shop anywhere else (*cough* Paragon *cough*). Seems appropriate, though, as «Modell’s [was] founded in 1889 by Morris A. Modell, [who opened his] first store located on Cortlandt Street in lower Manhattan.» The store prides itself on being «the nation’s oldest, family-​owned and operated, retailer of sporting goods, sporting apparel, menswear and brand name athletic footwear» — A fact that is plastered in gigantic lettering on the wall & blared loudly over the broadcasting system.
Pound in that message! Pound in that message! See it! Hear it!
Over & over & over! (Those poor employees!!)
Please.stop.
. Stop.the.brainwashing.
.some.shorts.and.sneakers.
I’d probably shop in Modell’s more often & longer if:
1) They didn’t constantly attack my ears with their announcements.
2) Lighting improved in all stores — This location is better than most, however.
3) It was located on street level or above, though the air was surprisingly well circulated.
Nonetheless, Modell’s is not a complete waste of real estate. At the very least, their multiple locations translate into convenience. They offer a decent selection of merchandise including Nike, Puma & Wilson. Products are organized. Stores are clean despite their drab appearance. Prices are appealing for Manhattan.
In conclusion, Modell’s is the poor man’s Paragon.
Personally, if I need something basic, I’d still go into Modell’s for a quickie trip instead of wading though the suffocating crowds at Paragon. Maybe that’s just me. Crowds = Bad.
Modell’s has so much potential to be a better store. I’d even give them an extra star if they would simply turn up the lighting & turn down the volume!